THE SEA MEW. 307 



blue back. It is seen througbout tbe year on the coasts of the 

 Mediterranean and tbe Atlantic. 



Tbe only species of Sea Mew wbicb it is necessary for us to 

 describe are : — 



Tbe Wbite Sea Mew, or Senator {Larus eburneus)* wbicb is 

 found but incidentally in tbe temperate regions of Europe. It 

 is very common in Greenland and Baffin's Bay. Its plumage is 

 entirely wbite, tinted witb pink underneatb ; it has black feet 

 and a bluisb bill. 



Tbe Brown-masked Sea Mew {Larus capistratus)] bas tbe top 



Fig. 109.— Great Black-backed Gull (^Larus marinus, Yanell). 



of its bead and tbroat of a ligbt brown colour ; tbe inside of tbe 

 wings are ligbt grey ; tbe rest of its body is wbite ; and its bill 

 and tarsi are of a reddisb-brown colour. This species is common 

 in England. 



Tbe Laugbing Sea Mew {Larus ridibundus) % bas its bead black ; 

 its neck, tail, and lower parts of a wbite bue. Its back and 

 wings are bluisb grey, and its beak and feet vermilion red. Tbis 

 is tbe species most easily tamed. It is called tbe Laugbing Sea 

 Mew on account of its cry. It is widely spread all over Europe, 

 and builds its nest on tbe coast at tbe moutbs of rivers. It is 

 only a visitor in France and Germany, but in Holland it is found 

 a permanent resident. 



* Ivory Gull of Yarrell. t The Masked Gull of Yarrell. 



+ Black-headed Gull of Yarrell. 



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